Green Infrastructure Environmental Forum

Green Infrastructure Environmental Forum

• 1.
  Green Infrastructure: An Overview Environmental Forum 07.25.2012 Atlantic States Legal Foundation, Inc. www.aslf.org
• 2.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 What Is Green Infrastructure?  As A Planning Approach: Green infrastructure is an interconnected network of natural areas and other open spaces that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions, sustains clean air and water, and provides a wide array of benefits to people and the environment.
• 3.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 What Is Green Infrastructure?  As A Stormwater Management Approach Green stormwater infrastructure refers to systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspirate, or reuse stormwater or runoff on the site where it is generated
• 4.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 What Is Green Infrastructure?  Green Infrastructure Technologies  Green Roof  Tree Trench/Vegetated Swale  Planter Box  Rain Garden  Permeable Pavement  Urban Forestry  Rain Barrel and Cistern
• 5.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 What makes green infrastructure so different? And what can green infrastructure do for us?
• 6.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Impervious Urban Surface Sidewalks Streets Parking Lots Rooftops
• 7.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 The Difference  Pre-development  Post-development
• 8.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Traditional Approach to Stormwater Management:  move water off the site as quickly as possible
• 9.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Green Infrastructure Approach  Treat stormwater runoff at the source where it is generated
• 10.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Rain Gardens  typically allow for 30% more infiltration than a conventional lawn  Effectively remove pollutants, >40% nitrogen  Reduce runoff
• 11.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Green Roofs  Can retain 30-80% of total annual precipitation falling on the surface  Reduce air pollution  Save energy cost  Last up to twice as long as traditional roof
• 12.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Stormwater Planter Boxes  Reduce stormwater volumes and velocities  Suited for urban redevelopment sites
• 13.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Vegetated Swales (Bioswales)  reduce the volume of run-off by 15% or more, as compared to curbs, gutters, and sewers  Suspended solids: 30% to 70% removal,  nutrients: 10% to 30% removal.
• 14.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Permeable Pavement  Runoff reduction & groundwater recharge  Pollutant removal:  heavy metal, 98%;  Suspended solid, 82-95%  Nutrients, 65-85%
• 15.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Rain Barrels & Cisterns  Reduce runoff generated from rooftops  Delay & reduce peak runoff flow rates  Reduce water consumption
• 16.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Urban Forestry  Increases 10% in tree cover will reduce 2-5% total runoff and peak runoff rates  Urban tree planting can be incorporated into stormwater management
• 17.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Additional Benefits of GI  Cleaner Air  Reduced Urban Temperatures & energy demands  Source Water Protection  Cost Savings  Native habitat creation & connection  Urban/community beautification  Increased land & property values  Economic stimulus & job creation
• 18.
  Atlantic States LegalFoundation, Inc. 07.25.2012 Can green infrastructure solve all stormwater problems?